Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Kristine O. Evans
Committee Member
Mark D. McConnell
Committee Member
Dana J. Morin
Committee Member
Scott A. Rush
Date of Degree
5-13-2022
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Forest Resources
Department
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Abstract
Fire suppression, combined with lack of forest thinning and short-rotation, monodominant management, has drastically altered the landscape in the southeastern U.S., leading to the loss of open pine ecosystems and associated avian species. Management of open pine ecosystems is a common practice; yet, there remains uncertainty regarding how vegetation structure impacts priority species. Using empirical data, I assessed changes in species abundance and associated vegetation characteristics before and after management. I also sought to identify vegetation characteristics that influence home range establishment and microhabitat selection of Bachman’s Sparrows. Priority species were negatively associated with hardwood midstory and abundance per site increased following management. Home range establishment of Bachman’s Sparrows was influenced by disturbance, canopy cover, and slope, while microhabitat selection was influenced by pine basal area, available perching options, vegetation density, and herbaceous groundcover. Understanding how vegetation structure impacts priority species may be helpful in guiding conservation and management efforts.
Recommended Citation
Todaro, Holly Marie, "Assessing priority bird response to open pine management in eastern Mississippi" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 5421.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5421
Included in
Animal Sciences Commons, Forest Management Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons